SAN JOSE, Antique – The chief of police of this capital town had been relieved.
Senior Inspector Marc Dado and seven police officials who shot and killed two men in Barangay Madrangca last week were removed from their posts effective March 25.
The 30-year-old Kenneth Henry “Big Boy” Tabaranggao of Mandurriao, Iloilo City and Vidal Allado, 49, of Pavia, Iloilo were shot on their chests after they and three others mauled Police Officer 2 Dennis Corcolla around 2:30 a.m. on March 22 at a bar in Barangay 5.
The seven other relieved officers were Senior Police Officer 2 Pedro Escares, Police Officer 3 Rene Mesobre, and Police Officers 1 Riebert Pio Mones, Harold Baldestamon, Epigenio June Dioso III, Reynald Villacarlos, and Mark Anthony Jalando-on.
Dado was temporarily assigned at the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Office of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) while his men were transferred to Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO).
APPO’s deputy provincial director for administration Superintendent Orly Gabinete took over Dado’s post.
Dado told Panay News that PRO-6 director Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag told him that Gov. Rhodora Cadiao and Mayor Elmer Untaran requested for his relief.
“Nagvolunteer na ako na magparelieve to give way sa gusto nila. Let us just respect the decision of our regional director because he is our father here in Region 6 and I believe that he knows what is best for us. And with that, I respect his decision,” Dado added.
Untaran announced Dado and several others’ relief during the regular flag-raising ceremony at the municipal hall.
Meanwhile, APPO director for operations Superintendent Norby Escobar assured that there will be a fair investigation into Tabaranggao and Allado’s deaths.
“We have to wait for the results of the investigation. If these police officers have liabilities, they must face the consequences of their actions,” Escobar stressed.
There are insinuations of a possible rubout. Their families claim that Tabaranggao and Allado sustained blood clots on their bodies aside from gunshot wounds, suggesting that they were mauled.
But Dado denied this. He said what they did was a legitimate operation, adding that they even tried to negotiate with the suspects.
Tabaranggao, Allado and three other men allegedly ganged up on Corcolla after a confrontation at Royalty Tower Lounge.
Corcolla, an intelligence officer of the municipal police station, was having a drink with an undercover agent while the suspected attackers were at another table, Senior Police Officer 1 Michael Grijaldo has told Panay News in a phone call.
The suspected attackers grabbed Corcolla’s service firearm (a .9mm pistol) and wallet, and fled, added Grijaldo.
Corcolla then sought backup from the San Jose police station, prompting Dado to launch a hot pursuit against the suspects.
A shootout ensued when the pursuing officers cornered Tabaranggao and Allado, police said.
Tabaranggao sustained two gunshot wounds on the chest while Allado, three. San Jose’s Emergency Medical Services personnel pronounced them “dead on the spot.”
Their companions – Allado’s nephews John, 29, and Louis, 23, both of Pavia, Iloilo, and Reynald Jordan of Barangay Madrangca – were caught and detained at the San Jose police station.
According to an eyewitness, Corcolla started the trouble.
“He (Corcolla) was too drunk and unruly. He was ogling a woman companion of the group, and when the woman left, he started uttering insults,” the witness said on the condition of anonymity. “The group confronted him (Corcolla). Turning defensive, the officer tried to draw a gun from his waist but one from the group grabbed it and hit him on the head. The others mauled him and left.”
Grijaldo has said that the pursuing officers “had no intention to kill.”
“In fact, there was a negotiation for their surrender, but they fired at the police,” he added./PN
